Tuesday, March 13, 2007

A reader sent in this copy of an email exchange with Robert Cox. It gives a glimpse into the warped mind of the proprietor of Olbermann Watch.

Cox spams anyone who has the nerve to disagree with him and publishes their emails WITH THEIR EMAIL ADDRESSES on his site. If what is good for the goose is good for the gander then surely Robert Cox will not mind my publishing this exchange WITH THIS PERSONAL EMAIL ADDRESS here.

Still not convinced that Cox is a sick, twisted individual?

Cox writes:

Monitoring the un-American activities of Keith Olbermann is the highest calling of any patriotic American.

The sad part is that he and his followers actually believe this.

Enjoy the ENTIRE email with the name of my reader redacted to protect the innocent.

I have no doubt that you have received a flood of emails supporting your decision to open your site back up, but please keep in mind, it only takes a few seconds to bang out an email, but you're the one dedicating your life to this. I have no doubt that your heart is in the right place, but certainly there are activities that you could be railing against that are truly un-American and not merely the activities of an American whom you disagree with who is exercising his constitutionally protected right to free speech.

A true patriot would support the first amendment, even when it is being used in a way that you disagree with.

Monitoring the un-American activities of Keith Olbermann is the highest calling of any patriotic American.

God Bless America

On Mar 9, 2007, at 11:36 AM, J wrote:

> Dude.>> You're kidding me right? When you were a kid, and someone asked you what you want to be when you grow up, was this really it? "I want to spend my life rebutting a TV pundit!" "I wanna be a hater!">> I had never even heard of your site till I heard it was shut down. I never watch Olbermann except when he tries to channel Murrow with one of his 'special comments'. So I don't think I qualify as any sort of 'loon'. I just enjoy it when angry right-wingers fail.>> So here's to four more years of me not giving a crap about what you do.>> Maybe I'll stop by for a visit next time you throw in the towel. Have fun wasting your life, I have a real job to get to.>> On 3/8/07, Robert Cox wrote:>> Dear OlbyLoon,>> Thank you for your concerns about Olbermann Watch. After seeing the> celebratory reaction to our admittedly hasty decision to shut down> Olbermann Watch we have reconsidered.>> Enjoy the NEW Olbermann Watch! http://www.olbermannwatch.com/>> Sincerely,>> Robert Cox> Managing Editor> OlbermannWatch.com> http://www.olbermannwatch.com/>> Olbermann Watch, STILL the #1 Keith Olbermann blog in the world>> On Mar 2, 2007, at 5:06 PM, J wrote:>> > hahahahahaha> >> > now you can do something useful with your life.> >> > theoretically.> > but I doubt it.

Saturday, March 10, 2007

In an interview with The Portland Press-Herald, Robert Cox again reveals clear right-wing partisan bias in blogger coverage of the Libby trial.

From the interview:

"There was a concern from the professional journalists that somehow some offhand comment would wind up going up on a blog and go worldwide and embarrass someone," Cox said. "This touches on one of the major issues that got raised for the bloggers, which is: How do we function when part of what we're there to cover is the media's coverage of the event?"

So, which journalists would the far-right Cox be willing to embarrass?

Journalists like MSNBC's Davis Shuster who just so happens to be a correspondent for Keith Olbermann on MSNBC.

No surprise from the right-wing Media Bloggers Association.

A Portland Press-Herald reader who has had their own experiences with Cox and his far-right outfit commented on the story with a link to a blog documenting threats Cox has made against innocent people in Maine. Why are we not surprised?

Friday, March 9, 2007

As we suspected all along, and as I said last week, Cox could not be trusted to tell the truth.

I'd like to think that Bob Cox and his gang saw the proverbial light - that they realized bullying, misinformation, name-calling, etc. was not only wrong, but a shining example of the most irresponsible misuse of the blogosphere as a conduit of information and creator of community.

Does Cox think he is humorous pretending to quote Winston Churchill. Is it a lame attempt to mock our use of a photo of Winston Churchill in our Victory post?

It's all right there for everybody to see at olbermannwatch, he says. It certainly appears from examining the site that anything Olbermann has ever said or done is reproduced there. The problem is that no one yet has started a watchingcoxwatcholbermann.com to sift the wheat of his truth from the chaff of his opinion. Like many bloggers, Cox laments the demise of objective journalism while offering up opinion, in this instance right-wing, along with fact.

Bob Cox and his minions do not worry themselves with little details like "facts." They traffic in anti-Olbermann marketing.

Monday, March 5, 2007

Now there's a picture of a dead animal on the front page of OlbermannWatch.

Here's a screenshot:

And for those curious as to what preceded this most recent example of the right-wing spectacle that was OlbermannWatch, here is Cox's farewell letter to his acolytes:

"There is no disguising the fact that we have been extremely unhappy with the recent decision of NBC Universal to not only retain Keith Olbermann for four more years but to elevate him in an unprecedented fashion. We had held out hope that MSNBC would allow Olbermann's contract to expire even up until the last few weeks. But the deal is done and our Countdown Clock expired at midnight on March 1, 2007.

"Given this, we have come to the conclusion that we have done more harm than good over the past 2+ years in keeping Olbermann in the public eye at a time when few were watching his show and even less cared about his assault on the journalistic standards we hold dear. So, after careful consideration and consultation with the entire staff, we have decided the time has come to retire OlbermannWatch.com.

"It's been a great run. We certainly had a lot of fun running the site but it's just been increasingly difficult to maintain our enthusiasm as Olbermann's ratings have increased and a compliant media has done everything to boost Olbermann and his show.

Saturday, March 3, 2007

The site may be down, but the memory lives on. For those of you who are wondering about the (now inaccessible) content of OlbermannWatch, here’s a sampling of a few representative posts.

June 2, 2006 on Countdown reporting that the Bush administration boasted of foiling a terror plot against the Brooklyn Bridge, then took the bridge off the official list of national iconic possible terror targets

Get the hint? There was no plot against the Brooklyn Bridge. The guy who was found guilty must have been framed by the evil US government. And just in case that was too subtle for the gullible viewers of Countdown, KO reinforced the insinuation by resuscitating his Krazy Keith Konspiracy: terror threats are phony, and are just for political manipulation. There followed more recycled video from the network mothership about Homeland Security grant allocations.

June 7, 2006 on the resignation of MSNBC President Rick Kaplan

There is no doubt this is a day long pined for at OlbermannWatch. Clinton pal and uber-liberal Kaplan was never going to dump Keith no matter how low his ratings went. Now all those "conditions" KO laid on Kaplan when he was brought back to MSNBC are out the window. I think we are looking at KO going pretty soon. I don't see him staying on air until his contract is up next February.

June 16, 2006

Welcome Michele Malkin readers to OlbermannWatch, where we watch the "obscene, abusive, unhinged jerk" so you don't have to!

June 22, 2006 on reports that the “weapons of mass destruction” found in Iraq were, at worst, likely to give those exposed to the threats a minor skin rash

The infamous, deplorable Keith Olbermann (skin a bright orange, hair oddly less gray) was desperate to do damage control. How to paper over John Kerry's humiliating loss in the Senate? Simple. Ridicule the WMD news, attack Rick Santorum, and kill three birds with one stone. Santorum isn't to be believed because he is behind in the polls. Hoekstra didn't announce, he "foamed". The degraded gas is virtually harmless. All it will do is hurt your skin. They're "weapons of minimal discomfort". All this despite the fact that the declassified document plainly states that they remain potentially "lethal".

June 26, 2006 on Rush Limbaugh (currently appearing on Fox’s Half Hour Comedy Hour) being stopped at customs for possessing Viagra without a prescription…

After oddball, a bit about "comedian Rush Limbaugh" being stopped at customs for possessing prescription medicine in someone else's name. Olby made it a point to state that "the office would not identify the prescription drug", but the only report available (filed at 7:52 pm) not only does so, but also includes the caveat that he was detained for "possible" possession of the drug(s). KO then added, "No comment from comedian Rush Limbaugh".

I could go on (and on and on), but I think you get the idea.

I’ve got to wonder… If Bob Cox was so proud of his work there, why is the content gone?

Keith Olbermann speaks truth to power. The right can try and vilify him as some kind of leftist kook if they wish, but the fact is that he has demonstrated fealty to the Constitution (which neocons seem to disdain), accountability and excels in calling out these cretins on their lies. There is a very good reason why his viewership is up, up, up and that Countdown is the most frequently 'TiVo'ed program of all.

This country is NOT as inherently 'conservative' the the right would have you believe; we never have been.

Congratulations, Keith on your 4 year renewal. To Robert Cox, STFU.

***

"Journalistics standards that we all hold so dear?" That is EXACTLY what Keith - AND ONLY KEITH - has been doing. I am sorry that Mr. Cocks believes that the heads at Fox Noise Channel are journalists but Olbermann is the new and much-needed Edward R. Murrow of our times. Now if we can just get Fox Noise to shut down we can bring back journalistic integrity for good!

***

Olbermann Watch - now that's a laugh - What is with these right wing nut jobs. I mean they really just don't get it.

Olbermann is speaking truth to power like nobodies business. The only reason he's a threat is because he exposes their lies and distortions in the context of reality which they can not stand to have pointed out to them because they are disingenuous retarded snobs.

The "right" thinks they are fighting for something when the very thing they claim to be against is what they are.

The only real explanation for their thuggery is that in their denial they are simply projecting that which about themselves they can not face head on.

What else can account for the tragedy of opposites that seem to flow from their mouths like a river of ineptitude and lack of moral accountability.

Cox closed down his sight because it was irrelevant. His fake crusade to hold up the pillar of journalistic integrity is and always was a huge joke.

***

These are the same morons who think that FOX isn't a propaganda machine. Listening to Olbermann is like getting much needed oxygen.

***

I used to post on the site, but quit after the elections. I felt the site was irrelevant at that point. The analyses by Johnny Dollar and Robert Cox were so moronic, even a three year old could rebut their arguments. No offense to three year olds.

And their parting shot is that they take credit for the increase in ratings. Long may their egos wave.

***

I think it was actually one lonely dude in his parents' basement.

In fact, I visited the blog once, and after reading one particularly odious posting, I left a comment that said something like, "I bet your parents are so proud of you. In fact, I bet your mother is upstairs baking you cookies right now." ***

So does this guy live, like, in an alternate reality? One where Olberman's ratings are tanking? One where Bush's approval ratings are 85%, and where the Republicans have routed Congress, due to our breathtaking success in Iraq?

In other words, do he and Dick Cheney share the same dimension? ***

Notice that the OlbermannWatch had nothing to recommend itself, it wasn't sharp and witty, no sense of humor, etc., it fell down trying to fight truth, just the way it should be. I'm pleased that Olbermann's numbers are increasing.

Thursday, March 1, 2007

I'd like to think that Bob Cox and his gang saw the proverbial light - that they realized bullying, misinformation, name-calling, etc. was not only wrong, but a shining example of the most irresponsible misuse of the blogosphere as a conduit of information and creator of community.

We are an hour away from the final ticks off the OlbermannWatch Countdown Clock and we hear at OlbyWatch are still wrestling with our big decision.

I think this may be farewell.

Overlook the misspellings for a moment to consider what was not said.

No thanks. In yet another supreme act of arrogance, there was no expression of appreciation for the regular readers who (sadly) made his blog what it was.

No apologies. No expression of regret or the slightest sign of any acknowledgment thatwords, however self-righteously justified, do indeed have an impact.

Bob ended as he began - in a flurry of arrogance and obfuscation.

Are he and his cohorts off to greener pastures? I doubt it. I'm sure that he and his gang would tell you otherwise. I'm sure they would argue that the need for OlbermannWatch is no longer as pressing and, besides, Cox's megalomania is certainly better served elsewhere.

At the moment that Countdown with Keith Olbermann is at its strongest, most powerful, most popular, Cox chooses to close OlbermannWatch.

The timing is telling.

Cox has never been a watchdog. If he were, OlbermannWatch would still exist.

He's a bully - an ad-man who seized upon a marketing opportunity. Not an opportunity to promote a particular brand of truth or policy stance, but an opportunity to traffic in vitriol because it is that sort of poison which he discovered would be the most effective route to his own personal success.